Community Continence Clinics

In our continence clinics we see children under 16 from Sheffield with any of the following:

• bedwetting from age six if there has been no response to professional advice regarding increasing drinks and toileting for three months
• day-time wetting from age four if advice has been given for three months regarding increasing drinks and regular toileting and their GP has excluded constipation and urinary tract infections
• constipation when not responding to treatment by their GP for three months
• soiling when not responding to treatment by their GP for three months
• toilet training problems from age five, including children with special needs, after adequate input and supervision from their GP, health visitor, special needs or MAST support workers

Clinics are held at Centenary House and the Northern General Hospital where we assess children thoroughly and arrange necessary investigations.

What happens at a continence clinic appointment

You and your child will have the opportunity to talk about the problem and how it affects you both. You may be asked to complete charts prior to your appointment to help assess your child’s problems.

A full assessment will be carried out and sometimes a physical examination is necessary. A urine sample may also be needed and other investigations may be arranged.

During the appointment you will be given information about your child’s condition and will be involved in deciding the best course of action to help your child. This could include general advice, advice about drinks and diet, medication or alarm therapy (for bedwetting).

Children and parents are often asked to fill in charts to record success and progress.

The community continence team

The community continence team has a number of doctors and specialist nurses with input from a clinical psychologist.

Referrals

GPs, health visitors, community nursery nurses, school nurses and other health professionals can make referrals to these clinics.

Useful websites

ERIC – national charity for children with continence problems
NICE Guidelines – management of bedwetting in children and young people
NICE Guidelines – constipation in children and young people
One Step at a Time – a parent’s guide to toilet skills for children with special needs
PromoCon – product information, advice and practical solutions for continence problems